Case 673/16: An EU (same-sex) love story

5. Jun 2018, 14:18

Gay spouses have the right to live anywhere in the EU, its top court just said, in a challenge to illiberal leaders in central Europe.

News in Brief

23. Jul, 08:05 Macron changes phone after Pegasus spyware revelations
23. Jul, 07:58 Italy to impose 'vaccinated-only' entry on indoor entertainment
23. Jul, 08:03 EU 'will not renegotiate' Irish protocol
23. Jul, 08:04 Brussels migrants end hunger strike
23. Jul, 08:01 Elderly EU nationals in UK-status limbo after missed deadline
23. Jul, 08:50 WHO: 11bn doses needed to reach global vaccination target
23. Jul, 08:09 EU to share 200m Covid vaccine doses by end of 2021
22. Jul, 09:29 Spain ends outdoor mask-wearing despite surge

Opinion

The dangers of resurgent nationalism in Greece

25. May 2018, 09:14

Virulent nationalism in Greece has been stirred up in the context of austerity and renewed negotiations with Macedonia. Recent attempts by the government to address the inequalities suffered by LGBT persons have also been met with a reactionary backlash.

Gay rights under threat in divided Europe

16. May 2018, 09:26

From same-sex marriage in Malta to horrors in Azerbaijan - survey shows huge disparities on gay rights in Europe, amid "stagnating" progress and populist threats.

EU court bars tests for gay asylum seekers

25. Jan 2018, 17:54

Authorities in EU countries can no longer impose controversial psychological tests to determine whether an aslyum seeker is telling the truth about their homosexuality.

EU top lawyer says Romania must accept gay partners

11. Jan 2018, 10:40

Advocate general Melchior Wathelet of the European Court of Justice says the word 'spouse' in EU legislation is gender neutral.

LGBTI protection still lacking in EU

8. Nov 2017, 15:36

Despite some welcome advances, some legal rights for the LGBTI community are lacking in EU member states, and the rise of the populist right is making things worse, conference in Warsaw is told.

Fears for LGBTI staff at Brexit relocation agencies

27. Oct 2017, 11:59

Four countries that want to host the London-based EU agencies do not offer registered partnership for same-sex couples.

Analysis - Aleksandra Eriksson

So what if the Irish PM is gay?

Taoiseach's sexual orientation has grabbed headlines, but history shows that gay politicians seldom promote LGBT rights.

EU 'disturbed' by Azerbaijan's anti-gay raids

29. Sep 2017, 19:57

Baku confirms it arrested gay people and forced them to do medical tests, as EU seeks "clarifications" on events.

Handful of bids for EU agencies mention gay rights

11. Sep 2017, 17:44

Austria's bid to host the European Medicines Agency mentions Vienna's 'thriving and diverse LGBTIQ community', but its bid to host the banking agency does not.

Only five countries are helping gay Chechens leave Russia

3. Aug 2017, 15:48

EU leaders were vocal in their criticism of the anti-gay campaign that took place in the Russian republic of Chechnya earlier this year. But only a few countries are willing to offer a refuge to the victims.

Malta legalises same-sex marriage

13. Jul 2017, 09:26

Once regarded as conservative, the catholic island of 440,000 becomes the latest EU country to allow same sex couples to marry.

Political games behind Germany's gay marriage vote

30. Jun 2017, 07:13

Gay marriage was adopted in a snap vote at the German parliament on Friday. But lesbians and gays acquired this right after German chancellor Angela Merkel tried to sabotage the electoral campaigns of her opponents.

Analysis

Hard days ahead for Serbia's gay PM

19. Jun 2017, 09:09

The nomination of Brnabic as Serbia's first gay prime minister is linked to party politics and pinkwashing rather than civil rights.

Feature

Gay rights at heart of Poland's value conflict

7. Jun 2017, 11:17

Anti-gay statements are part of an anti-EU narrative propagated by Poland's ruling Law and Justice party. But only a few politicians from the opposition are willing to challenge the image of Poland as a homophobic country.

Stakeholder

LGBTI activists and businesses fighting inequality together

6. Jun 2017, 07:49

Multinational corporations can play an important role in creating a more inclusive society, through the workplace.

Gay, under-40 politican to rule Ireland

3. Jun 2017, 09:07

Leo Varadkar said his election as leader of the ruling part was an "unlikely story". He assured he would stick to the EU position in the upcoming Brexit negotiations.

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Latest News

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Today, 08:06 Open letter from 30 embassies ahead of Budapest Pride
22. Jul, 08:43 Orbán counters EU by calling referendum on anti-LGBTI law
22. Jul, 07:45 Why aren't EU's CSDP missions working?
22. Jul, 07:19 Romania most keen to join eurozone
22. Jul, 07:19 Slovenia risks court over EU anti-graft office
21. Jul, 09:09 Sweden's gang and gun violence sets politicians bickering

Interview - Andrew Rettman

Gay rights face backlash in Poland

Polish society is becoming more gay-friendly, but anti-gay activists are becoming more radical and the government is doing little to stop it, says gay right activist Agata Chaber.

Lithuania helps gay Chechens flee Russia

19. May 2017, 17:26

Linas Linkevicius, foreign minister of Lithuania, said his country issued visas to two persecuted Chechens and that an international effort was underway to protect others.

Liberals denounce EU parliament's 'anti-gay' bill

17. May 2017, 20:39

Liberal MEPs say a parliamentary position on protecting children from immoral content on the Internet could be used to discriminate against gay people.

Most EU states drifted backward on gay rights

17. May 2017, 17:59

Intersex rights are the new boundary for toleration of sexual minorities in Europe, as EU institutions urged to show more "political courage" to stop hate.

Merkel and Putin fail to see eye-to-eye

3. May 2017, 09:29

German leader urged Putin to protect gay men in Chechnya, he said his police were better-behaved than some in Europe.

EP chief faces questions after homophobic 'summit'

28. Apr 2017, 18:38

Tajani was due to open a "summit" with anti-gay extremists in the EU parliament. He cancelled, but questions remain on why the event went ahead.

Malta to push for LGBTI rights in troubled times

24. Feb 2017, 17:48

Activists hope the EU presidency of Malta, a recent LGBTIQ champion, will help to put their rights higher on the EU agenda.

Commission 'shockingly passive' on Lithuania gay rights

7. Dec 2016, 09:15

MEPs express outrage after the EU Commission takes no action against Lithuania over an anti-propaganda law that discriminates against gay people.

Opinion

LGBT rights at stake in Georgia election

23. Sep 2016, 16:34

The Georgian Dream party says it is pro-EU, but its demonisation of LGBT people for the sake of a few votes is a retrograde move on Georgia's European path.

Interview

Panti Bliss: EU lessons from the gay rights movement

30. Jun 2016, 13:09

"Personal activism" is worth more than politicians' talk, but a “meek” EU will never win public support, an Irish gay rights campaigner tells EUobserver.

Interview

Hate speech costs lives, EU warns

20. Jun 2016, 15:27

Hate speech, whether homophobic or islamophobic, can prompt violent crime, justice commissioner Vera Jourova has warned in the wake of the Orlando and Jo Cox killings.